Opening and Closing Ceremony

President: "The ____ (Meeting Room, Banquet Hall, Etc.) will now come to order. We are now holding a meeting of the ____ (Chapter Name, District Name, Etc.) FFA _____ (Chapter, District, Etc.) Mr./Mdm. Vice President, are all officers at their stations?"

Vice Presicent: (Rise and face President) "I shall call the roll of officers, determine if they are at their stations and report back to you, Mr./Mdm. President." "The Sentinel."

Sentinel: "Stationed by the door."

Vice President: "Your duties there?"

Sentinel: "Through this door pass many friends of the FFA. It is my duty to see that the door is open to our friends at all times and that they are welcome. I care for the meeting room and paraphernalia. I strive to keep the room comfortable and assist the president in maintaining order."

Vice President: "The Reporter."

Reporter: "The Reported is stationed by the flag."

Vice President: "Why by the flag?"

Reporter: "As the flag covers the United States of America, so I strive to inform the people in order that every man, woman, and child may know that the FFA is a national organization that reaches from the state of Alaska to the Virgin Islands and from the state of Maine to Hawaii."

Vice President: "The Treasurer."

Treasurer: "Stationed at the Emblem of Washington."

Vice President: "Your duties there?"

Treasurer: "I keep a record of receipts and disbursements just as Washington kept his farm accounts carefully and accurately. I encourage thrift amoung the members and strive to build up our financial standing through savings and investments. George Washington was better able to serve his country because he was financially independent."

Vice President: "The Secretary."

Secretary: "Stationed by the ear of corn."

Vice President: "Your duties there?"

Secretary: "I keep an accurate record of all meetings and correspond with other secretaries wherever corn is grown and FFA members meet."

Vice President: "The Advisor."

Advisor: "Here by the owl."

Vice President: "Why stationed by the owl?"

Advisor: "The owl is a time-honored emblem of knowledge and wisdom. Being older than the rest of you, I am asked to advise you from time to time, as the need arises. I hope that my advice will always be based on true knowledge and ripened with wisdom." "Mr./Mdm. Vice President, why do you keep a plow at your station?"

Vice President: "The plow is the symbol of labor and tillage of the soil. Without labor, neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much. My duties require me to assist the President at all times in directing the work of our organization. I preside over meetings in the absence of our president, whose place is beneath the rising sun."

Advisor: "Why is the president so stationed?"

Vice President: "The rising sun is the token of a new era in agriculture. If we will follow the leadership of our president, we shall be led out of the darkness of selfishness and into the glorious sunlight of brotherhood and cooperation. Mr./Mdm. President, all officers are at their stations."

President: (Rises and faces the Vice President) "Thank you, Mr./Mdm. Vice President." (All take seats at tap of gavel.) "The Secretary will call the roll of members."

Secretary: "There are _____ members and ______ guests present, Mr./Mdm. President."

President: "Thank you. FFA members, why are we here?" (All members stand at three taps of gavel.)

All members in unison: "To practice brotherhood, honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities and develop those qualities of leadership which an FFA member should possess." (All are seated at one tap of gavel.)

President: "May we accomplish our purposes. I now declare this meeting of the _____ (Chapter Name, District Name, Etc.) FFA _____ (Chapter, District, Etc.) duly open for the transaction of business, or attention to any matters which may properly be presented."

President: "Mr./Mdm/ Secretary, do you have a record of any further business which should now be transacted?"

Secretary: (Rises, replies and is seated.) "I have none, Mr./Mdm. President."

President: "Does any member know of any new or unfinished business which should properly come before this meeting?" (If no answer, proceed as follows.) "We are about to adjourn this meeting of the _____ (Chapter name, District name, Etc.) FFA _____ (Chapter, District, Etc.). As we mingle with others, let us be diligent in labor, just in our dealings, courteous to everyone and, above all, honest and fair in the games of life. Fellow members and guest, join me in a salute to our flag."

(Tap three times with gavel to call members to stand, face the flag at the reporter's station and, with their right hands over their hearts, repeat the following salute.)

All in unison: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

President: "I now declare this meeting adjourned." (Tap once with gavel and the meeting is adjourned.)